A lesson on the importance of being proactive with my MS care
You'd think I'd adopt the logic I learned in the Army
The first time you try something should not be the moment you absolutely need it.
During my time in the military, I often applied this concept to both performing a critical task with my nondominant hand and using certain medical equipment. In both cases, the logic of “I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out when the time comes” isn’t very sound, and it eventually became a pet peeve of mine.
The time to unwrap and figure out how to use a lifesaving medical intervention, such as a tourniquet, is not when one’s life needs saving. Likewise, should my dominant hand ever be out of action, the time to figure out if I can use the other one isn’t when I’m completely dependent on it.
I was taught this lesson from the beginning of my time in the Army and became a big proponent of it. You’d think I’d apply the same logic now to the various interventions and helpful devices in my life with multiple sclerosis (MS), but you’d be wrong. As often as this disease has slapped me in the face with my own faulty logic, I still sometimes take the approach of figuring it out when the time comes.
Note to self: Don’t lose valuable time
As a recent example, I had my wheelchair controls switched from the right arm to the left one. MS has made me an unwilling lefty, and I was spending the majority of my time driving by reaching across my body with my left hand. Changing the controls was the practical and safe thing to do, but I didn’t make the switch until nearly a year after I should have.
At the same time, I had an attendant control installed on the back left side of my wheelchair. It allows someone walking beside me to control the chair if I’m too fatigued to do it myself. I don’t need to use it yet, and I’d love to take credit for actually doing something proactive, but the truth is, my wife deserves credit for that one. The only proactive thing I did was to obey, begrudgingly.
Long before I got the wheelchair, I didn’t want to use a cane. By the time I finally gave in, I probably should’ve been using a rollator. I took foolish pride in being good at falling down without injuring myself, and I considered that a good reason to avoid using a mobility aid until it was absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, I lost valuable time by never taking those mobility aids out of the wrapper, so to speak.
This concept also applies to scheduling appointments and discussing MS symptoms and medical interventions with my doctor before something becomes an emergency. If there was ever a time to plan ahead, it’s when it involves taking care of your health. Of course, there’s more to me than just MS, so staying on top of other areas of my health is equally vital.
More important than the professionals I occasionally see are my family members, who are also my caregivers. I see them every day. Honest communication with them about my wants, needs, disabilities, capabilities, and mental health is crucial. More than any doctor, my loved ones need to know how I feel every day. It’d be a disservice to them if I waited until something was an emergency before addressing it.
I know that being proactive by using a new intervention before it’s absolutely necessary can feel like giving up. Right or wrong, that’s how it feels to me most of the time. You’d think I would’ve mastered this pattern by now, but all I can say is that I’m getting better at it.
Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.
About the Author
Comments